St. Swithin was a beloved 9th-century Bishop of Winchester who requested that he be buried outdoors—to enjoy God’s gift of rain for all eternity. When others decided to move his remains inside, legend has it that St. Swithin caused torrential rains to fall for 40 days. This is the source of several weather proverbs regarding rain on July 15.

St. Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain.

There is an old saying when it rains on St. Swithin's Day, it is the Saint christening the apples.

Apple growers ask St. Swithin for his blessing each year because they believe:
(copied from www.projectbritain.com)

* Rain on St. Swithin's day 'blesses and christens the apples.'

* No apple should picked or eaten before July 15th.

* Apples still growing at St Swithin's day will ripen fully.
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